Display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus including: a body having a display panel, and a chassis placed on a back of the display panel; and a stand having a plurality of support members that support the body by coupling to the body. At least one of the plurality of support members is different in strength from the other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/611,815, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, and is based upon and claims thebenefit of priority from the entire disclosure of Japanese PatentApplication No. 2009-020391 filed on Jan. 30, 2009, includingspecification, claims, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

One aspect of the present invention relates to a display apparatus inwhich a body of the display apparatus is supported by a stand.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, thin television screens using a display panel such as a liquidcrystal display panel or a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) are becominglarger in size, and many thin television receivers of 40 type (theeffective visible area has a diagonal length of 40 inches) or largerhave been commercialized. A thin television receiver has an externalshape configured as a laterally elongated rectangular flat plate inwhich the aspect ratio of the screen is 16:9. For example, a televisionreceiver of 46 type has a width of about 110 cm and a height of about 80cm, and that of 52 type has a width of about 130 cm and a height ofabout 85 cm.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the external shape of a displayapparatus 100 such as a thin television receiver. A body 101 of thedisplay apparatus is installed with a stand 102 attached thereto. Thestand 102 is called an installation stand or a table stand, and supportsthe body of the display apparatus. The stand 102 includes a supportingportion for fixing the body 101. The body 101 and the supporting portionare fixed to each other by screws or the like.

The weight of the body of a display apparatus such as a thin televisionreceiver is about 30 kg in the case of 46 type, and 40 kg in the case of52 type. The supporting portion must support the weight. When a force isexternally applied to the body in a direction toward which the body istilted, a large force acts on the supporting portion. When a force whichis larger than that is allowed by the supporting portion acts on thesupporting portion, the supporting portion is deformed, and may bebroken, then the body may be collapsed.

A structure which, when an impact force is applied on a monitor (displayapparatus), absorbs the impact force, and which, even after the impactforce is absorbed, prevents the monitor from dropping out has beeninvented (see JP-A-2001-347895, for instance). In the configurationdisclosed in JP-A-2001-347895, a clip is disposed in a bracket attachedto the monitor, and a grommet is disposed in a stationary supportbracket. A bar portion which supports the inserted clip, and which isdeformed when an impact force of a threshold or higher level is appliedis disposed in the grommet. At a position therebelow, a movementallowable space which, when the bar portion is deformed, allows the clipto downward move by a certain distance, and a movement blocking portionwhich inhibits downward movement that is greater than the certaindistance are disposed.

As an example of the case where an external force is applied to thedisplay apparatus body in a direction toward which the body is tilted, acase will be considered where a person accidentally collides against anupper portion of the display apparatus. Alternatively, another case maybe considered where a child carelessly puts hands on the body and hangsdown from the body. When such an unexpected external or impact forceacts on the upper portion of the display apparatus, an extremely largeforce is applied to the supporting portion of the stand, then thesupporting portion may be broken.

FIG. 14 is a view of a state where the body 101 of the display apparatus100 is collapsed, as viewed from the side. The figure shows how thesupporting portion 103 of the stand 102 is broken and the body 101 iscollapsed toward the front side (the side of the display panel) due toan external force F acted on the upper portion of the body 101.

If the deformation of the supporting portion 103 is within the plasticdeformation range, breakage may not be caused. When brittle fractureoccurs, however, the supporting portion is broken, and the body iscollapsed. Since, in the case of 46 type or more, the body has a weightof 30 kg or more, the collapsing of the body is dangerous. Therefore, itis desired that, even when an external force which is larger than athreshold value is applied, a certain degree of deformation is allowed,however, collapsing does not occur.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiment may be described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view schematically showing thedisplay apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view of the display apparatus, as viewed from theback;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view of the display apparatus showing an A-Asection in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view of a state where a chassis iscoupled to support members, as viewed from the back;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view schematically showing a stand;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing the sectional shapes of the supportmembers;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view showing the sectional shapes of supportmembers in a second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view showing the sectional shapes of supportmembers in a third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary perspective view schematically showing a stand inthe third embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary perspective view schematically showing a standin a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary perspective view schematically showing a standin a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary perspective view schematically showing a standin a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary perspective view showing the external shape of adisplay apparatus; and

FIG. 14 is an exemplary view of a state where the body of the displayapparatus is collapsed, as viewed from the side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments according to the present invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general,according to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provideda display apparatus including: a body having a display panel, and achassis placed on a back of the display panel; and a stand having aplurality of support members that support the body by coupling to thebody, wherein at least one of the plurality of support members isdifferent in strength from the other.

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the display apparatus of the inventionwill be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is aperspective view schematically showing the display apparatus 1 of theinvention. The body 2 of the display apparatus 1 is attached to a stand3 which supports the body of the display apparatus. The stand 3 includessupport members to which the body 2 is to be fixed. The body and thesupport members are fixed to each other by screws or the like. A displaypanel 4 such as a liquid crystal display panel or a PDP is placed on thefront of the body 2. The outer face is surrounded by: a front cover 6which covers the front of the body 2 and parts of the upper face, lowerface, and both sides of the body; a back cover 7 which covers the backof the body 2 and parts of the upper face, lower face, and both sides ofthe body.

FIG. 2 is a view of the display apparatus 1, as viewed from the back. Achassis 5 is placed inside the body 2. A lower and substantially middleportion of the chassis 5 is joined to the stand 3. The support members9, 10 are substantially perpendicularly raised from a pedestal 8 of thestand 3. In each of the support members, two screw-fixing holes 11 a, 11b or 12 a, 12 b are formed. Fixing screw holes which are not shown aredisposed in the chassis 5. The chassis 5 and the stand 3 are fixed toeach other by fixing screws 14 a to 14 d. In the chassis 5, jointportions between the chassis 5 and the support members 9, 10 areconfigured by a metal plate having a thickness of, for example, 2 mm.Although the four fixing screws are used in the embodiment, it is amatter of course that a plurality of fixing screws 14 may be added asrequired.

When, for the sake of weight reduction or the like, the metal sheet ofthe chassis is thinned or the chassis is made of a resin, the strengthof the chassis is reduced. Therefore, a case may be possible whereanother frame (not shown) configured by a metal plate is attached to theback of the chassis and the support members 9, 10 of the stand 3 arecoupled to the frame. The frame may have a size which is approximatelyidentical to the chassis as viewed from the back, or may be disposedonly in the vicinity of the joint portions with the support members 9,10 of the stand 3.

In the back cover 7, openings 15 a to 15 d are formed at positionscorresponding to the fixing screws 14 a to 14 d, so that the fixingscrews 14 a to 14 d can be fastened or loosened from the outside of theback cover 7.

FIG. 3 is a view of the display apparatus 1 showing a III-III section inFIG. 2. The display panel 4 such as a liquid crystal display panel or aPDP is placed on the front of the body 2, and the chassis 5 whichsupports the display panel 4 is placed on the back of the display panel4. A circuit board and power supply circuit which are used for drivingthe display panel, and which are not shown are disposed on the back ofthe chassis 5. The front cover 6 and the back cover 7 are fixed to thechassis 5. The chassis 5 and the support members 9 which aresubstantially perpendicularly raised from the pedestal 8 of the stand 3are fixed by the fixing screws 14 a, 14 b.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a state where the chassis 5 is coupledto the support members 9, 10, as viewed from the back. The figure showsa state where the front cover 6 and the back cover 7 are detached, asviewed from the back. The chassis 5 is supported by the support members9, 10, and hence the support members 9, 10 support the weight of thebody 2. When a force is externally applied to the body 2 in a directiontoward which the body 2 is tilted, a large force acts on the supportmembers 9, 10.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing the stand 3. Thestand 3 is configured by the pedestal 8 and the support members 9, 10.In the pedestal 8, a planar portion for positioning the pedestal 8 withrespect to the installation face is disposed in the lower face (the facewhich is to be contacted with the installation face). The supportmembers 9, 10 are positioned above the pedestal 8, and disposedsubstantially perpendicularly to the planar portion. Particularly, thefaces to which the chassis 5 is to be joined are substantially vertical.Each of the support members 9, 10 has the two screw-fixing holes 11 a,11 b or 12 a, 12 b. The number of the screw-fixing holes may beadequately increased in accordance with that of required screws.

The pedestal 8 and the support members 9, 10 are integrated with oneanother, and may be integrally molded by the same material.Alternatively, they are produced by different materials, and thereafterfirmly joined to one another. When they are integrally molded by thesame material, aluminum die-casting or the like may be employed. Thesupport members 9, 10 have different sectional shapes, and differ instrength against bending deformation from each other. In the supportmember 9, the partial dimensions of the section are larger than those ofthe corresponding portion of the support member 10. The support member 9is partially thickened so that the strength is enhanced.

In the support members 9, 10, the strength against bending deformationor that to resist breakage is determined so that, when an external forcewhich may be applied to the body is supposed, the support memberswithstand the supposed threshold external force. First, it is assumedthat both of the support members are the support members 10 having thelower strength, and the dimensions of the support member 10 aredetermined so that the portions withstand the threshold external force.The threshold external force is determined depending on thespecifications regarding the strength of the display apparatus 1. Withrespect to the support member 9, next, the dimensions are determined sothat the strength exceeds that of the support member 10.

According to the configuration, when an external or impact force whichexceeds the threshold external force acts on the body 2, the supportmember 10 having the lower strength is first deformed. When the supportmember 10 having the lower strength is largely deformed, the supportmember 10 is broken. When the support member 10 is first deformed orbroken, the external or impact force is absorbed, and the support member9 having the higher strength is not broken, so that it is possible toprevent the body 2 from being collapsed. At least the situation wherethe support members are simultaneously broken does not occur, and hencethere is a large possibility that the body 2 can be prevented from beingcollapsed. When one side of the body is deformed, the time to reduce theexternal force is produced. For example, even when a person accidentallycollides against an upper portion of the display apparatus, or when achild carelessly puts hands on the body and hangs down from the body,when one side of the body is deformed, the action of a continuousexternal force is reduced, and there is a large possibility that thebody 2 can be prevented from being collapsed.

When an external force which is larger than the external force exceedingthe threshold external force, such as an external force which is severalor several tens of times the threshold external force continuously acts,however, it cannot be denied that also the support member having thehigher strength has a possibility of being broken.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the sectional shapes of the support members 9,10. In FIG. 6, section (a) shows the sectional shape of the supportmember 10, and section (b) shows that of the support member 9. Thesupport members 9, 10 have substantially U-like sectional shapes. Thereference numerals S1, T1, U1, V1, and W1 indicate dimensions of thesupport member 9, and S2, T2, U2, V2, and W2 indicate dimensions of thesupport member 10, respectively.

As described above, S2, T2, U2, V2, and W2 determine the dimensions ofthe support member 10 so that the portion withstands the thresholdexternal force. By contrast, S1, T1, U1, V1, and W1 determine thedimensions so that the strength of the support member 9 against bendingdeformation or to resist breakage is higher than that of the supportmember 10. In FIGS. 6, S1 and S2, V1 and V2, and W1 and W2 aresubstantially equal to each other, respectively, and T1 is larger thanT2. In the support member 9, T1 is increased so that a connectingportion 9a is thickened, thereby enhancing the strength of the supportmember.

Preferably, portions of the support members where their strengths aredifferentiated may be the weakest portions, or namely the strengthdifference may be formed between the portions which are most deformable.According to the configuration, the support member having the lowerstrength is first deformed, and the support member having the higherstrength is not broken, so that it is possible to prevent the body 2from being collapsed.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a view showing the sectional shapes of support members in thesecond embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment is differentfrom the first embodiment in that the second embodiment uses a supportmember 17 in place of the support member 9 in the first embodiment, andthe second embodiment uses a support member 18 in place of the supportmember 10 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 7, section (a) shows thesectional shape of the support member 18, and section (b) shows that ofthe support member 17. The support members 17, 18 have substantiallyU-like sectional shapes. The reference numerals S3, T3, U3, V3, and W3indicate dimensions of the support member 17, and S4, T4, U4, V4, and W4indicate dimensions of the support member 18, respectively.

As described above, S4, T4, U4, V4, and W4 determine the dimensions ofthe support member 18 so that the portion withstands the thresholdexternal force. By contrast, S3, T3, U3, V3, and W3 determine thedimensions so that the strength of the support member 17 becomes higher.In FIGS. 7, T3 and T4, U3 and U4, V3 and V4, and W3 and W4 aresubstantially equal to each other, respectively, and S3 is larger thanS4. In the support member 17, S3 is increased so that rib portions 17 b,17 c are lengthened, thereby enhancing the strength of the supportmember.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a view showing the sectional shapes of support members in thethird embodiment of the invention. The third embodiment is differentfrom the first embodiment in that the third embodiment uses a supportmember 19 in place of the support member 9 in the first embodiment, andthe third embodiment uses a support member 20 in place of the supportmember 10 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 8, section (a) shows thesectional shape of the support member 20, and section (b) shows that ofthe support member 19. The support members 19, 20 have substantiallyU-like sectional shapes. The reference numerals S5, T5, U5, V5, and W5indicate dimensions of the support member 19, and S6, T6, U6, V6, and W6indicate dimensions of the support member 20, respectively.

As described above, S6, T6, U6, V6, and W6 determine the dimensions ofthe support member 20 so that the portion withstands the thresholdexternal force. By contrast, S5, T5, U5, V5, and W5 determine thedimensions so that the strength of the support member 19 becomes higher.In FIGS. 8, S5 and S6, T5 and T6, U5 and U6, and V5 and V6 aresubstantially equal to each other, respectively, and W5 is larger thanW6. In the support member 19, the width W6 of the U-like support memberis increased to enhance the strength of the support member.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically showing a stand 21 in thethird embodiment . The stand 21 is configured by the pedestal 8 and thesupport members 19, 20. When the number of the support members is two,the strengths of the two support members are made different from eachother. When the strengths are different from each other, there is alarge possibility that the support member having the lower strength isfirst deformed, and at least the possibility that the support membersare simultaneously deformed is low. In one and other sides across thevertical center axis 28 (see FIG. 2) which laterally bisects the body 2,the strengths of the support members are made different from each other.The support member having the lower strength is first deformed, and thesupport member having the higher strength is not deformed or latelydeformed. At least the situation where the support members aresimultaneously broken does not occur, and hence there is a largepossibility that the body 2 can be prevented from being collapsed.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a stand 22 in thefourth embodiment of the invention. The fourth embodiment is differentfrom the first embodiment in that two support members 10 are disposed inthe fourth embodiment in place of the support member 9 in the firstembodiment. Since the two support members 10 are disposed, the strengthcan be doubled.

In FIG. 10, the three support members 10 have the same strength, and thesupport members 10 are arranged so as to be asymmetrical with respect tothe center axis 28 which serves as the symmetrical axis, whereby thestrengths are differentiated. In order that the strengths of the supportmembers in the one and other sides across the vertical center axis 28(see FIG. 2) which laterally bisects the body 2 are made different, atleast one of the plurality of support members may be made different instrength from the other support members.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing a stand 23 in thefifth embodiment of the invention. The fifth embodiment is differentfrom the first embodiment in that a support plate 24 is disposed inplace of the support members 9, 10 in the first embodiment. The stand 23is configured by the pedestal 8 and the support plate 24. The supportplate 24 is positioned above the pedestal 8, and disposed substantiallyperpendicularly to the planar portion of the pedestal 8. Particularly,the faces to which the chassis 5 is to be joined are substantiallyvertical. Four screw-fixing holes 25 a, 25 b, 25 c, 25 d are formed inthe support plate 24. The number of the screw-fixing holes is adequatelyincreased in accordance with that of required screws.

The support plate 24 includes rib portions 24 b, 24 c in the both sidesof the support plate body 24 a. The sizes of the support plate body 24 aand the rib portions are determined so that the plate withstands thethreshold external force. In one of the rib portions, the rib islengthened in order to enhance the strength. In FIG. 11, the size of therib portion 24 c of the support plate 24 is determined so that theportion withstands the threshold external force, and the rib portion 24b is lengthened so that the strength is enhanced. A method may beemployed in which, in place of changing the sizes of the rib portions,the thickness of the support plate body 24 a of the support plate 24 ischanged.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing a stand 26 in thesixth embodiment of the invention. The sixth embodiment is differentfrom the first embodiment in that a support member 27 having a U-likeshape is disposed in place of the support members 9, 10 in the firstembodiment. In the support member 27, a connecting portion 27 a, andsupport members 27 b, 27 c are integrally molded by aluminum die castingor the like. The connecting portion 27 a is coupled to the pedestal 8 byscrews or the like. The support members 27 b, 27 c correspond to thesupport members 9, 10 in the first embodiment, respectively. The sectionof the support member 27 b is identical with section (b) of FIG. 6, andthat of the support member 27 c is identical with section (a) of FIG. 6.

As described above, in the first to sixth embodiments, in the one andother sides across the vertical center axis 28 (see FIG. 2) laterallybisects the body 2, the strengths of the support members are madedifferent from each other. According to the configuration, when anexternal or impact force which exceeds the threshold external force actson the body 2, the support member having the lower strength is firstdeformed. When the support member having the lower strength is firstdeformed or broken, the external or impact force is absorbed, and thesupport member having the higher strength is not broken, so that it ispossible to prevent the body 2 from being collapsed. At least thesituation where the support members are simultaneously broken does notoccur, and hence the body 2 can be prevented from being collapsed,whereby danger due to collapsing of the body 2 can be prevented fromoccurring.

The invention is not restricted to above-described configurations, andmay be variously modified.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a display panel;a body having at least one cover accommodating the display panel; afirst support member that independently supports the body at a firstposition on the body; a second support member that independentlysupports the body at a second position which is separated from the firstposition on the body, and wherein the first support member and thesecond support member are integrally formed such that the first supportmember and the second support member are connected to each other.
 2. Thedisplay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first support memberand the second support member are symmetrically arranged with respect toa vertical center axis which laterally bisects the body.
 3. A displayapparatus comprising: a display panel including a display screen; achassis placed on an opposite side of the display screen of the displaypanel; at least one cover accommodating the display panel and fixed tothe chassis; a first support member that independently supports thechassis at a first position on the chassis; a second support member thatindependently supports the chassis at a second position which isseparated from the first position on the chassis, and wherein the firstsupport member and the second support member are integrally formed suchthat the first support member and the second support member areconnected to each other.
 4. The display apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the first support member and the second support member aresymmetrically arranged with respect to a vertical center axis whichlaterally bisects the display panel.
 5. A display apparatus comprising:a body that comprises a display panel including a display screen and achassis placed on a side of the display panel opposite the displayscreen; at least one cover accommodating the display panel; a firstsupport member that independently supports the body at a first positionon the body; a second support member that independently supports thebody at a second position which is separated from the first position onthe body, and wherein the first support member and the second supportmember are integrally formed such that the first support member and thesecond support member are connected to each other.
 6. The displayapparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first support member and thesecond support member are symmetrically arranged with respect to avertical center axis which laterally bisects the body.